Journal Issue: Volume: 56, No. 212, Jul-Aug, 2018
Loading...
Volume
Number
Issue Date
2018
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
JNMA Print ISSN: 0028-2715; Online ISSN: 1815-672X
Journal Volume
Articles
Prevalence and Its Associated Risk Factors in Tooth Wear
(Nepal Medical Association, 2018) Shrestha, Deepti; Rajbhandari, Prerisha
Abstract
Introduction: Tooth wear is described as loss of hard tooth tissue with no occurrence of dental caries or trauma. Basic Erosive Wear Examination, a new scoring system, is a partial scoring system recording the most severely affected surface in a sextant and the cumulative score guides the management of the condition for the practitioner. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of tooth wear and its association with its risk factors like gender, oral hygiene, diet, general health and life style.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was done in 364 dental patients of Kathmandu Medical College. A questionnaire was filled by interview and Basic Erosive Wear Examination was done. The data so collected were entered in Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Descriptive statistical analysis and Chi-square tests were done at confidence interval of 95% and statistical significance was set at P=0.05.
Results: The prevalence of tooth wear was 218 (60.1%) with no significant gender difference. A significant association was observed between tooth wear and age group (P<0.01), duration of brushing (P=0.05), method of brushing (P<0.01), swishing of soft drinks before swallowing (P<0.01) and tobacco chewing (P=0.02).
Conclusions: The prevalence of tooth wear in the study population was high.
Correlation of Uric Acid with Glomerular Filtration Rate in Chronic Kidney Disease
(Nepal Medical Association, 2018) Khadka, Milan; Pantha, Binod; Karki, Lochan
Abstract
Introduction: Chronic Kidney Disease is a worldwide public health problem that affects millions of people from all racial and ethnic groups. Identification of a Chronic Kidney Disease is a major risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and is attributed to hyperuricemia. Evidences show that high serum uric acid contribute directly to glomerulosclerosis, interstitial fibrosis and atherosclerosis that correction of hyperuricemia associated with Chronic Kidney Disease will slow the progression of chronic renal failure.
Methods: A hospital based cross-sectional study on chronic kidney disease patients including 57 patients on conservative treatment attending Bir Hospital with diagnosis of chronic kidney disease was performed. Detailed clinical history, examination and investigations including uric acid were done. Chronic Kidney Disease staging was done according to estimated glomerular filtration rate estimated by Cockcroft-Gault equation. Prevalence rate of hyperuricemia in Chronic Kidney Disease and its stages were calculated and compared with each other.
Results: A total of 57 Chronic Kidney Disease cases were enrolled, with male to female ratio of 2:1 and mean age 51.63±17.75 years. Hyperuricemia was present in 55 (96.49%) of study population. Though prevalence of hyperuricemia increased with Chronic Kidney Disease stage, there was no significant difference in mean value of uric acid in different stages. Hyperuricemia and stages of Chronic Kidney Disease had negative correlation which was statistically significant.
Conclusions: Hyperuricemia is highly prevalent among Chronic Kidney Disease patients with conservative management. The severity of hyperuricemia increases as Chronic Kidney Disease stage progresses.
Effectiveness of Herbal Mouthwash among Visually Impaired Residential School Students
(Nepal Medical Association, 2018) Dahal, Sirjana; Shrestha, Ashish; Bhagat, Tarakant
Abstract
Introduction: Visually impaired patients are unable to visualize the plaque on tooth surfaces resulting in inadequate plaque removal and therefore the progression of dental caries and inflammatory disease of the periodontium. The objective of the study was to assess the effectiveness of herbal mouth wash in reduction of plaque and gingivitis among visually impaired children.
Methods: Randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted with parallel groups study, comprising 6 to 20 year old visually impaired children, 20 in each group (herbal mouth wash or chlorhexidine mouthwash or placebo mouthwash). Plaque and gingival index were recorded at baseline and at the end of the study. Children were asked to use the mouth wash twice daily for two weeks. Analysis was done using Chi-square test for categorical data and Mann-Whitney U test/independent t-test and one way analysis of variance/Kruskal-wallis H test for quantitative data. The level of significance was set at P<0.05.
Results: Participants showed fair oral hygiene (mean plaque scores of 1.14±0.53) and moderate gingivitis (mean gingival scores of 1.12±0.45) with no significant difference between three groups (P=0.47 and 0.84, respectively). Significant reduction of plaque and gingivitis was seen at follow-up with no significant difference between herbal and chlorhexidine mouthwash. However, significant difference was found between placebo and herbal/chlorhexidine mouthwash.
Conclusions: Herbal mouthwash showed significant effect on reducing plaque formation and gingivitis in visually impaired students. The effectiveness of herbal mouthwash was analogous to the gold standard chlorhexidine.
Perception of District Judges and Lawyers Towards Medico-legal Reports, Medical Certificates and Medical Expert Opinion
(Nepal Medical Association, 2018) Subedi, Nuwadatta; Giri, Hima Raj
Abstract
Introduction: The medico legal reports and certificates prepared by doctors can be used as valuable documentary evidence in the court of law. The study was designed with objectives to explore the perception of judges and lawyers about the quality of medico legal reports prepared by the doctors and their competence in providing the expert evidence in the court.
Methods: It is a questionnaire based cross sectional study conducted among the district judges and government attorneys of 75 districts of Nepal from March to May 2016. The data obtained was analysed by SPSS version 16.0.
Results: Among a total of 78 participants who responded the questionnaire, 40 (51.3%) were district judges and 38 (48.7%) district attorneys. Most of them graded that the reports prepared by the doctors were just average. Among them, 49 (63.6%) strongly agreed and 28 (36.4%) partially agreed that the reports were useful in deciding the cases. A total of 44 (56.4%) respondents strongly agreed and 34 (43.6%) partially agreed that expert opinion of the doctors in the courts were useful to decide the cases. Seventy one (92.2%) of them rated general doctors as moderately competent.
Conclusions: The medical reports prepared by the Nepalese doctors were just average as perceived by judges and lawyers and the competency in presenting the evidence in courts was moderate as rated by them.
Knowledge of Use of Antibiotic, Its Resistance and Consequences Among Students in Private Schools
(Nepal Medical Association, 2018) Deo, Satish Kumar; Rijal, Sita; Kunwar, Sita Devi; Dahal, Anuja; Gupta, Sujaya
Abstract
Introduction: Self-medication among adolescents has become a serious global problem that plays an important role in irrational use of medication and tends to increase with the age of adolescents. Limited research has been done in Nepal regarding antibiotic knowledge among non-medical students. Hence, this study aims to assess the knowledge of higher secondary non-science students regarding antibiotic use, resistance and its consequences.
Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was done during antibiotic awareness week 2017 among 471 grade 11 and 12 non-science students of private schools in Kathmandu. Convenience sampling technique was used. Data was collected through self-administered questionnaires. Descriptive statistics was utilised to find out the knowledge level of the students.
Results: The mean age of the students 245 (52%) male, 226 (48%) female) was 17.19 years and 335 (71.1%) were from grade 12. Approximately all 462 (98.1%) the participants had inadequate knowledge regarding antibiotic and their knowledge mean score was 5.8±2.56. More than half 277 (58.8%) of the students had not heard about antibiotic resistance, among those who have heard 113 (24%) said that doctor and nurses were the source of information.
Conclusions: Almost all of the participating students lacked adequate knowledge regarding antibiotic. Thus, it is imperative to create school and community based awareness programs by policy makers for adolescents to upgrade their knowledge on safe use of antibiotics as well as to prevent the consequences of antibiotic resistance during their adult life.